THOUSANDS of folk music fans will be flocking to Poole this weekend for the town’s free Folk on the Quay festival.

There will be a mix of musicians, dancers and what organisers are describing as ‘folk royalty’ throughout the day on Saturday, June 24 starting with dancing at 10.30am and live music from 12noon until 9pm.

The free festival, organised as part of Poole’s Wave 105 Summertime in the South events programme, has been condensed into one music and dance event across two stages.

Developed by Poole Tourism, working with folk event music organisers Paul and Catherine Burke, the event includes a main stage at the roundabout on Poole Quay and the Landlubbers stage opposite the Poole Arms.

There will be Morris dancing displays, Scottish rapper sword dancing, Slovak and Middle Eastern belly dancing and some of the UK’s finest step dancing.

Music acts include headliner Marry Waterson, Baraka, a unique combination of musicians from Ghana, Senegal, Dominica, Trinidad and Southern Ireland, contemporary acoustic folk duo Gilmore and Roberts and one of the UK’s top bluegrass and folk acts, The Carrivick Sisters.

Paul Dredge, acting chair of the Poole Tourism Management Board, said; “Poole offers such a great location for events and it’s wonderful to see artists of this quality alongside our amazing home grown talent. And with fantastic live music in the sun, there’s no better way to enjoy the Quay.” See folkonthequay.com.